“Can you think of any other self respecting Nation that does not teach its own history to its children? I can't.

We should start with the history of Wales BC and begin with places like the Bronze Age Copper mine on the Great Orme in Llandudno.

A mine so vast and so important that it was at the centre of the first industrial revolution around 3500 BC when man developed from using Wood/Stone/Bone as the chief materials used for tools of work and war to using metal such as copper and bronze.

The mine was worked for 1500 years and is one of, if not the biggest of its kind in the world during that period. It truly is a very important place and one of Wales' best kept secrets when it should at least be one of the 7 wonders of Wales.”

“What a pathetic post. More nationalistic coercion of our young people because they are losing the argument about coerced cymraeg lessons in EM school. 7000 pupils alone last year were failed by coerced cymraeg fundamentalism.

What posssible use would Welsh history be to 21st century Welsh people competing on a global scale? If you sign this petition you are condemning so many to be trapped in a land that can't supply enough jobs for who it has now.

Grow up.”

“How laughable; I think I know more than most about global competition having occupied senior positions with the two premier luxury Automotive Companies in the UK over the last 30 years; sorry to spoil your little stereotype..

Difference ofcourse is that in order to be a positive forward looking individual you need confidence in your own abilities and that is usually built on firm foundations. Too many people in today's society lack the confidence to be different and thus just become followers rather than leaders.

Be brave and stand out from the crowd and don't be scared to be different. Try it!!”

“Any history before the 19th Century is largely irrelevant to daily life. While I can see the value of knowing some of the darker moments in humanities past and understanding social conditions, why does a king or queen's name and outdated laws have any relevance?

If a child has an interest in history, then let them pursue it. Give them access to library books, internet resources and encourage family trips to historical sites. But don't waste the time of other students who may be far, far more benefited improving their literacy and numeracy skills.”

“History teaches us that History teaches us nothing at all.
A number of people on this forum need lessons in English Grammer and the correct way to form a sentence before condeming their fellow residents.
It is unfortunate that there are Nationalists who will not listen to reason,whether here in Wales or in Scotland.
I am primarily British and hold a British passport,though I am Welsh by birth.There is a saying of old that United we Stand divided we Fall,NO Constituant part of these Islands can stand on it's own,just as the old coal fire needed a number of lumps to keep alight so this Green and Pleasant land needs us all warts and all.”

“I note by some dismay that Carmarthenshire education dept, has placed the Welsh language as a compulsory subject, within our children's required education field, even if they don't speak this language! Now we're asking our children to learn Welsh history, next week they'll have them count in Welsh to pass their maths, so on so forth. There is a big world out there which is absolutely fantastic, to those that venture to shrug off their totally biased Welsh nationalist shackles. There is such a place as English Welsh, living in Wales believe me or not.”

“gorseboy I disagree with most of your post. Its the same typical small minded unionists claptrap! that we hear from the Tories or new labour!!. you see History is important to learn from the past and not to repeat the same mistakes in the future. It is important to Wales as our Anglicised Universities and Colleges are less than sympathetic to our own history. Our teachers cannot teach our children that which they do not know. A country without a memory of its own past has no present and little hope for the future. The past is the father of the present and the present is the father of the future. Labour & Tory unionists are openly hostile to welsh history as part of the school curriculum in Wales, claiming it could lead to nationalism. It has no qualms in prompting British (English) Nationalism at every level. I believe in Wales 1st unlike you who puts themselves as British 1st I'm a native brit that's welsh by the way and a proud nationalist who's 1st language just happens to be English not of choice by the way? but who's learning his native tongue. And there's a old saying that came to mind when I read your post and that was To the foolish, every utterance of nonsense seems like wisdom just read the post above I rest my case.”

“abertawegolf2 dear me do you have a problem with children being taught their own language ? You know that We do live in Wales!. And while most people speak English and English is the de facto language, not the official language. The English language has no official status in the UK. Welsh, on the other hand, has official status in Wales. You also want to be aware of using the term "Britain;" if you're talking about Britain, then the language if Brythonic, or close enough to Welsh as you can get. And I'm glad that Carmarthenshire education dept, has placed the Welsh language as a compulsory subject, well done to them. And I find your comments about our children learning welsh history to be pathetic. You just sound like self hating welsh cranks! Who spew their paranoia out on this website. Scratch a welsh- self - hater's surface and often you find a straight down the line opponent of anything to do with the welsh language history or culture! This is My last comment on this tedious matter – the anti-Welsh have never done anything for Wales, for its culture, its economy, its status or its prospects. There is indeed "a sickness that has penetrated deep into our psyche". It is the phobic hatred of our native language & history by some people who profess to be Welsh and reading most comments on here makes me believe that Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.”

“mw0cnd well there you have it English is not the official language of Wales! so you obviously presume that Welsh is accepted as the first Language, even though the majority in Wales speak only English. Again I do not recall mentioning "British" in my quest for fairness, it obviously gave you a platform to go into such detailed account on what! There is a subtle difference in Education standards throughout the Principality compared to Carmarthenshire Educations system, towards English only speakers. Welsh should infact be placed amongst German, French, or a n other as a secondary language, not thrust upon those that do not use it. I can assure you I am far from being a Welsh crank, (only in your eyes) I love Wales with a passion as most of my family, friends and neighbours do, our difference here though is: we don't hate people just because they don't speak Welsh as much as you do. I think you've made a bit of a fool of yourself here.”

“1st thing that I need to point out to you Abertawejack! is that you need to have you eye's tested and read the posts before you write anything you will see that I replied to the post of (ABERTAWEGOLF2) and not you!. that's my 1st point 2nd point Doh! I know that the majority of people speak English in Wales! This is in part dew to the English establishment Who Commissioned a report to the british Government on 1 July 1847 in three large blue-bound volumes. This report quickly became known as Brad y Llyfrau Gleision (The Treachery of the Blue Books) you see I know my history Commissioners were also free with their comments disparaging of the Welsh language, An immediate effect of the report was for a belief to take root in the minds of ordinary people that the only way for Welsh people to get on in the world was through the medium of English, and an inferiority complex developed about the Welsh language whose effects have not yet been completely eradicated. Which is why many welsh people who speak English have an inferiority complex when it come's to the welsh language and a backward attitude . Also On 9 February 2011, the welsh language received Royal Approval and was passed, thus making the Welsh language an officially recognised language within Wales. And I had to have a little laugh to myself when you said that welsh should and in your words be placed amongst German, French, or an other as a secondary language, not thrust upon those that do not use it. listen that's your point of view and in my mind the wrong one! take me brought up in Swansea only speaking English never got to learn welsh in school not even welsh history? Which wasn't taught (sad but true) married a lovely welsh girl from west Wales who's 1st language was welsh which she is more comfortable expressing herself in Welsh than in English. So I have learnt welsh myself and only speak welsh in the house to my wife and kids I'm not fluent but I'm getting there. Also your statement that I hate people who don't speak welsh is a stupid idiotic comment because I'm an English speaker myself so that was out of order! You see its not me that made a fool out of myself its you that have made a total fool out of yourself you see Common sense is not so common as people just need to read you post. Also please next time read the post before you make comment otherwise you may make a total fool out of yourself again. And we don't want that do we???? Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom”

“mw0cnd, So if you had married a German girl you'd have learned German! All I've stated is that I believe, Welsh should be used as a secondary language in all our schools when studying, so that everybody has a fair chance to learn and not just the chosen few. I don't wish to go to war over points of views, but at the end of the day Welsh speakers are indeed a drain on our economy, purely and entirely because it cannot support it's own language, reason being there are so few of them. In the next decade this will be proven beyond doubt of which I'm sure even you'll agree. I'd like my grandchildren, to progress into this world with the best supported Education available and without distractions, or extra drain on my taxes. The wonders of the computer lets each and everyone converse in any language they so wish, we are able to visit various sites and communicate, (mainly in English!) why! because each country knows full well this is the language of progression, use it wisely or fall by the wayside. Arrogance is actually another form of ignorance in this economic crisis, with costings paramount to sustainability.
( PS. one can come onto this site using different doors, which the EP promotes. bit like languages, we take the one's we use often along with their different aliases, my apologies for not stating this in my reply to you.)”

“Truly amazes me that some people can be so Welsh on big days like the Grand Slam day at Cardiff and yet seem to lack the courage or strength of character, or are scared to be that bit different to the majority unless surrounded by large numbers where they can be sort of anonymous.

Personally I am interested in History as well as Astronomy and most things in between, so certainly no small minded myopic local with no view of the greater world outside Wales; in truth I would class myself as an internationalist.

I appreciate the richness in different cultures, love literature, and have a tendency to stick up for the underdog or the vulnerable and dispossessed in society but also am a huge advocate of personal responsibility, team work, and self reliance.

Not teaching any ones history is no more than selective censorship by any other name; surely individuals have the right to know the truth about whatever topic you chose to mention and then they can make informed choices.

I personally have never had a great deal of interest in the Kings and Queens of England and their respective dates of succession but I took it in my stride as more knowledge so why should I not be equally as well informed about the history of the society that my forefathers grew up in?

I hate the idea of a single monopoly on culture and really want the richness of as many cultures as possible to survive; the one I know most about obviously is the one I was born into so really do not see why anybody would want to stop teaching my children and their children about our society; its highs and lows throughout History.

It certainly isn't a case of either English or Welsh history; we as individuals need a good understanding of all history and surely would expect that in a modern democracy that we are allowed access to all such information be that through formal education or leisure.

So opponents to education on here have a real problem with truth? very strange.”

“Well said Aabertawe Jack regarding MW - he has made a fool of himself, an April Fool no less.”

“mwOcnd
Sorrynot to have come back sooner,it took me a while to fully absorb your subsequent posts as you like many others refuse to use paragraphs,being a senior means I cannot follow a mass of words close together,anyway,you talk about learning from history our past to use for the present thus safeguarding our future.
Can you relate any event in history to which we have applied your viewpoint?
I am proud to be British and will defend the honour of my country against all,just as I did in my youth for Queen and Country.
I leave you with a quote by George Eliot:"HISTORY,WE KNOW IS APT TO REPEAT ITSELF."”

“I posted the below on a thread about the Welsh Assembly pushing through rules to force teaching of our kids through Welsh only, but after I submitted the post the entire thread disappeared - can't find the thread anywhere now so hope I did not break it as it has over 60 comments on it.

Here is what I posted:

It is shocking reading about this. I am stunned that this is going on behind the scenes in Wales - it is scandalous, as it appears to be being done on the quiet with the knowledge of most people in Wales.

Isn't Welsh spoken by only a small percentage of Welsh people? No one wants to see it die out but forcing it on to us all, especially on to our children, smacks of something from Nazi Germany or Communist Russia.

I had to go and do a google search on this subject and was surprised to find forums and a website, Gogwatch.com, which has loads of information about what is going on in our schools - there are teachers and parents writing all kinds of things about what is happening in our schools regarding forcing pupils to speak welsh and learn welsh.

There are teachers and head teachers who say that they fear for their jobs or they can't get work because they don't speak Welsh. Others who say they are thinking of leaving Wales because of what is going on. Even parents who say that their children are being punished in school for SPEAKING ENGLISH!!!

This is really evil.

http://tinyurl.com/49xszpo

I am the last person who would want Welsh to disappear but it seems a tiny minority have got into power and now look intent on forcing the rest of us to speak Welsh - OR ELSE!!!

Scary.”

“This topic is about teaching History to children at school; and I mean history not bits of it based on someone's idea of what should be tought or not tought.

Surely selective teaching of History is an open attempt at Socail Engineering, which goes on as we all know, but don't criticise those who try to put right what has been going on for decades if not centuries.

With only selective versions of the truth available to generations of children, how can they make reasoned assessments and decsions in their adult life.

I'm sure that if we were to suggest to Education Authorities in England, Scotland or Ireland or any other European Country that they should not teach their respective histories to their children we would all be stunned and amazed. But for us muppets its OK; get off your knees.”

“The proposer is asking for the impossible.
The entire history of Wales, from prehistoric times to the present day, with nothing left out?
Russellm expects teachers to go through least 3,000 years, in minute detail, during lessons over 5 years.
How will anyone know if the history is complete?
The first premise of the Classical Greek School of Sceptics is: It is impossible for one person to know everything.
Signatories take heed.”